Mission Statement
ISMND is a nonprofit organization that serves as an accelerator for the continuous improvement of brain and eye health and well-being by creating a multidisciplinary global platform for scientists, physicians, and the public from different facets and scientific disciplines to more readily connect, share and communicate scientific discoveries, and develop cures for neurodegenerative diseases, in the hopes of a world free of brain and eye diseases.
Membership Terms and Conditions
Definitions of membership categories, the annual dues for each class of membership, policy for reinstatement after short-term lapse, and forms for membership solicitation and renewal, and membership benefits shall be as established by the Board of Directors (Board).
Eligibility for Membership
All scientific researchers, clinicians, and trainees who share interests in the advancement of science and technology in the neurodegenerative disease research fields, and fully support the mission statement, can be eligible for membership. Memberships are not transferable. The membership of The Society will have three classes: (1) Professional Membership, (2) Associate Membership, and (3) Student Membership. However, this is subject to change in accordance with the Board.
1) Professional Membership: Scientists, physicians, or other professionals possessing a MD or PhD degree who have presented credentials indicating their professional activity, either medical, investigational or educational in the scientific or clinical disciplines may join the Society as Professional Members at $250 per year, due by December 31st.
2) Associate Membership: Post-doctoral fellows, medical residences, lab technicians, and other individuals who have professional research interest in the neurodegenerative disease field at $150 per year, due by December 31st.
3) Student Membership: Students (undergraduate and graduate) who are enrolled in accredited training programs and/or medical schools at $100 per year, due by December 31st.
Additional membership categories may be established by the Board. These can include honorable, Emeritus, institutional, public, etc.
Membership Application and Approval
Membership application form is available at The Society’s Website. Applications will be evaluated by The Society Officers and approved by the Board. If an application is rejected, The Society will provide a letter explaining the reason(s). Applicant has the right to resubmit a new application if issue(s) is appropriately addressed.
Member Responsibilities
Annual dues as defined in Member Eligibility, subject to changes by the Board.
Unpaid dues become delinquent on January 1 or ninety days after bills are rendered, whichever is later. The rights and privileges of membership are suspended during the period of delinquency. Privileges will be reinstated upon payment of delinquent dues within the calendar year of suspension and prior to January 1, of the subsequent year. After the expiration of one year, reinstatement can be accomplished only by reapplication for membership.
Board-approved Honorees and Emeritus members shall be exempt from the payment of dues and assessments.
All members are expected to:
(1) abide by The Society Bylaws and policies
(2) make timely payment of dues
(3) provide current contact information
(4) accept the responsibility to support the Mission and Objectives of The Society and to adhere to the Bylaws.
(5) Standard Ethics:
Members of The Society must at all times uphold strict moral and ethical standards by following The Society guidelines:
All components of research should be performed with utmost rigor and integrity; therefore, any act of falsification, fabrication, plagiarism, inappropriate duplication of data or results, or the omission of material data or results data is strictly prohibited.
Animal and Human research studies presented must follow Domestic and International governmental guidelines. All protocols must meet or exceed standards required for United States of America federal government for research. Statements on relevant approval of animal and human studies by institutional committees should be included in all publications and other forms of society communication.
Unpublished materials shown during meetings, seminars, or other Society functions are considered to be “confidential” and should not be copied or forwarded to another party unless permission has been given by the speaker and all other pertinent parties.
Any and all behaviors of harassment, including but not limited to verbal, unwelcomed physical touch, sexual and/or violence in any form is considered inappropriate and strictly prohibited.
The Society encourages Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for all its members, as such all within The Society must have respect for cultural and individual differences; discrimination based on ethnicity, race, gender, age, sexual orientation, prejudice behaviors, and/or any form of mistreatment are completely unacceptable.
In instances where these and other moral and ethical standards are violated, The Society reserves the right to revoke the membership of the offender. Where relevant, the inappropriate action or behavior might be further reported to institutional and/or government authority.
Membership Benefits
1. Reduced registration fees for conferences sponsored by The Society
2. Eligibility for travel fellowships to conferences
3. Access to workshops
4. Access to mentorship program
5. Meet the Professor
6. Seminar series organized by The Society
7. Open position posting
8. Networking opportunities
9. Career-promoting awards
Anti-Terrorism Compliance
All members of The Society shall be in compliance with all applicable anti-terrorist financing and asset control laws, regulations, rules and executive orders, including but not limited to, the USA Patriot Act of 2001 and Executive Order 13224.
Any violation of this representation is grounds for immediate termination of membership, all dues will be forfeited.
Any member determined to violate this section shall be prohibited from seeking future association with The Society.
Monetary Awards Given
Type of awards
As part of its mission to promote career-development of the next generation scientists, The Society will offer awards (scholarships and fellowships) to members for participation in career-developing activities. Such awards can be given to individuals directly or to individuals through an institution, when appropriate. Awards given to an individual through an institution may not be used to cover administrative overhead or indirect costs.
Liability for any awards given
Individuals directly given an award by The Society carry the sole liability to abide by award-specific requirements and rules agreed on by signed acceptance of the award. In case of awards given to an individual through an institution, the institution and the individual carry equal liability to abide by award-specific requirements and rules agreed on by signed acceptance by the individual and an official representative of the institution.
Research Misconduct
A member of The Society that is found guilty of Research Misconduct will be immediately terminated without refund of the membership fee.
Award funds given to an individual (directly or through an institution) shall be fully returned to The Society, in agreement with award-specific requirements and rules due to Research Misconduct. The individual award Recipient or the Recipient Institution, if the award is given to the individual through an institution, shall be required to reimburse The Society for all reasonable documented costs incurred by The Society in obtaining the return of the Award funds, including but not limited to, reasonable attorney’s fees, except as prohibited by applicable state law.
The interest of The Society in any Award given shall be understood to persist indefinitely following the expiration of the award. Should Research Misconduct be reasonably determined by The Society or by an independent Institution inquiry to have occurred in relation to this The Society Award after termination of the award, The Society shall have the right to demand, and the Recipient or the Recipient Institution shall return, all funds advanced to the Awardee or the Awardee Institution, and the Awardee or the Awardee Institution shall reimburse all reasonable costs incurred by The Society in obtaining the return of the award funds, including but not limited to, reasonable attorney’s fees, except as prohibited by applicable state law. The Member’s Institution will reasonably cooperate in investigating all such inquiries into Research Misconduct, whether initiated internally, by The Society, or by an independent entity.
The Society may, in its discretion, decline the application of, and prohibit any Principal Investigator found to have been guilty of, Research Misconduct from seeking future Grants and or funding from The Society.
Export Laws
All Society members shall comply, and shall require its licensees to comply, with all applicable laws and regulations. In particular, it is understood and acknowledged that the transfer of certain commodities and technical data is subject to United States laws and regulations controlling the export of such commodities and technical data, including all Export Administration Regulations of the United States Department of Commerce. These laws and regulations among other things, prohibit or require a license for the export of certain types of technical data to certain specified countries..
Arbitration
The parties hereby agree to arbitrate any dispute arising out of or in connection with interpretation, performance, breach, or termination of this Agreement that the parties are unable to resolve within ninety (90) days after written notice by one party to the other of the existence of such controversy or dispute. Such dispute will be finally resolved by arbitration before a single arbitrator appointed by the American Arbitration Association (AAA), or similar arbitration body, administered under that body’s commercial arbitration rules. All proceedings will be in English in Jacksonville, FL, USA.
The decision of the arbitrator will be binding and conclusive on the parties, and each party will comply with such decision in good faith. Notwithstanding the foregoing, judgment on the award by the arbitrator may be entered in any state or federal court located in any court having competent jurisdiction, and each party shall have the right to seek injunctive or other equitable relief from any court of competent jurisdiction.
The institution of any arbitration hereunder will not relieve either party of its obligations to make payments required by the terms of this Grant Agreement during the continuance of the arbitration proceeding.
Governing Law
This Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Florida, USA, without reference to conflict of laws principles.
Resignation and Termination
Any member may resign by filing a resignation request online. Resignation shall not relieve a member of unpaid dues, or other charges previously accrued. A member can have their membership terminated by a majority vote of the Board.
Updated 03.29.2022